The Filtered Excellence: February 8

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Bob Geldof once asked us, “Where is the filtered excellence!?” It’s right here. Once a week we take a break from comedy to bring you this week’s picks of the best things to watch, the most interesting things to do, great things to try, the best picks to read, our favorite things to listen to and more.

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Three by Madeline Anderson. Madeline Anderson was the first Black woman to direct a televised documentary and captured key moments of the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. As part of Black History Month, The Criterion Channel will feature three of Anderson’s seminal works: Integration Report 1, which looked at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s early efforts at desegregation; A Tribute To Malcolm X, featuring a rare interview with Dr. Betty Shabazz; and I Am Somebody, with Andrew Young, Charles Abernathy and Coretta Scott King as they rallied with Black women hospital workers to get wage increases and recognition into the union. This is a great opportunity to revisit pivotal points in history through the lens of one of our most important documentarians. Three By Madeline Anderson is available now on The Criterion Channel.

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Not Your Muse by Celeste. After releasing a string of critically acclaimed and commercially successful singles, winning the BRIT Rising Star Award, and topping the BBC’s Sound Of 2020 list, singer-songwriter Celeste has now released her eagerly awaited debut album. Informed by Billie Holliday, Nina Simone, and Ella Fitzgerald as much as she is Adele and Amy Winehouse, the album is a perfect showcase for her love for soul, R&B, jazz and old school pop. The comparisons to Adele are inevitable, but when Celeste sings a song as devastating as ‘Strange’, she’s giving notice that she’s in a class all her own. Effortlessly shifting between aching ballads to songs dealing with new love, hope and social commentary, Celeste has firmly established herself as the next great vocalist to emerge from the U.K. One of the year’s best. Not Your Muse by Celeste is available now through all major streaming services.

Nolan by Nolan Porter. When Nolan Porter passed away on February 4th, it renewed an interest in one of the most influential, yet underappreciated artists. Porter only released two albums, but his 1972 album Nolan, served a blueprint of what would later become the Northern Soul movement that would dominate the British charts throughout the 70s through the mid 80s. Featuring appearances by Lowell George, Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson and members of The Mother Of Invention, the album featured ‘If I Could Only Be Sure’ and Keep On Keepin’ On’, which did well on the UK charts. A wonderful fusion of rock and soul, it’s a collection that is begging to be rediscovered once again. Nolan by Nolan Porter is available now through all major streaming services.

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Passage: The Practice Of Healing. Coinciding with Black History Month, Okayplayer it’s launching Passage, a mental health and wellness initiative designed to promote stories and healing practices for millennials of color. Okayplayer & OkayAfrica Editor-in-Chief/VP of Content Rachel Hislop will host each live conversation, dealing with current and past events, with the hope to start a dialogue that will aid in the process of overcoming trauma, and more importantly, initiate healing. The topic of self-care has gained traction within communities of color and these series will definitely push the issue forward. Passage: The Practice Of Healing kicks off Tuesday, February 9th. You can must RSVP at rsvp.okayplayer.com.

Afrikan Poetry Theatre’s Black History Month Film Festival 2021. The Museum Of The Moving Image’s annual partnership with the Afrikan Poetry Theatre celebrating Black History Month has moved online, but it still continues to be a premier showcase for what’s happening across the entertainment spectrum. This year’s edition will include documentaries, comedies, short films, Q&A sessions and much more. It’s a perfect opportunity to catch the next, all from the comfort of your home. The Afrikan Poetry Theatre’s Black History Month Film Festival 2021 runs through February 28th. Go to www.movingimage.us for more information.

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Earl Douglas

Earl Douglas is a writer/photographer based in New York City. A frequent contributor to The Interrobang, Earl is also Executive Director for the New York chapter of The Black Rock Coalition. Earl worked in radio for nearly two decades at WNEW-FM and XM Satellite Radio, which included being the on-air producer for Carol Miller, Scott Muni and Ron & Fez, and a contributor to Opie & Anthony. Earl has also independently published a number of books including Black Rock Volume 1, Urban Abyss, Mobile Uploads, and For Shimmy. His latest project is the photojournalism magazine PRAXIS, which is available exclusively through Blurb.com.
Earl Douglas

Earl Douglas

Earl Douglas is a writer/photographer based in New York City. A frequent contributor to The Interrobang, Earl is also Executive Director for the New York chapter of The Black Rock Coalition. Earl worked in radio for nearly two decades at WNEW-FM and XM Satellite Radio, which included being the on-air producer for Carol Miller, Scott Muni and Ron & Fez, and a contributor to Opie & Anthony. Earl has also independently published a number of books including Black Rock Volume 1, Urban Abyss, Mobile Uploads, and For Shimmy. His latest project is the photojournalism magazine PRAXIS, which is available exclusively through Blurb.com.